Takeover deal creates £1m marquee hire operation
● Move made by one of Dundee’s oldest businesses ● Merger creates additional jobs at combined entity
Dundee-based DP&L Group, one of the city’s oldest business concernswithrootsstretching back to 1826, has bolstered its marquee hire operation with the acquisition of a Perthshire rival in a move that creates a £1 million-plus venture.
DP&L – founded as the Dundee, Perth and London Shipping Company – said its existing business, Allison & Stiven Marquee Hire, which operates from Dundee, would be merged with Blairgowriebased AJ Henderson.
The value of the acquisition has not been disclosed but the combined business will have a turnover in excess of £1m and employ ten full-time staff increasing to 20 in the busy summer months. Four additional jobs will be created immediately as a result of the deal and expansion plans.
The enlarged operation will trade as Henderson Gray and will continue to operate from both existing sites in Dundee and Blairgowrie.
Allison & Stiven Marquee Hire, which hires and manufactures marquees, can trace its history back to 1874 when James Allison formed his sail making business. When demand for sail waned the company started making and hiring marquees.
The name Gray in the new company originates from Allison Gray, which was the business’ name prior to its merger with RC Stiven in 2011.
Alick Bisset, group managing director of DP&L, which turns over some £15m a year, said: “We are delighted to have acquired Henderson Marquee Hire. This is a quality business which will enhance our offering especially in the wedding and private hire sector, an area in which we have seen significant growth since taking control three year ago.
“I am also pleased that the move will result in the immediate creation of four new jobs in the local area.”
John Lucas, managing director of Allison & Stiven, added: “As a result of the increase in business over the last three years we had run out of space at our existing premises in Dundee.
“The acquisition, in addition to adding the benefits of increased scale into the business, solves this issue as there is room for expansion on Henderson’s existing site.”
DP&L operated passenger services until the outbreak of war in 1939, and cargo shipping until 1962. In more recent times it has diversified into four core activities operating through three trading companies. Following several changes of ownership, it was acquired by Bisset and the management team in 2014. The group employs 50 staff. The first cohort of new businesses have graduated from the Acorn Enterprise Business Accelerator Programme in Dundee. Based at the Flour Mill in the city centre, the fledgling businesses successfully completed a competitive programme over the last five months. The participants benefited from office space, weekly seminars from other local businesses and a mentor who provides accountability. Acorn has aided some 100 businesses since its launch four years ago.